Photo by Crystal Reed
The Houser Agency
Production Assistant Jorjia Clements, Insurance Agent Kyler Houser and Financial Representative Elizabeth Houser.

•November 17, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Elizabeth Houser has added a new agent to her office, her son Kyler. A meet and greet was held at Country Financial at the end of October. With the addition of Kyler, the agency has become the Houser Agency.
Elizabeth started with Country Companies on March 28,2011. She has made six All Americans in a row. Recently there had been discussion about bringing in an associate agent but after another Country Companies agent retired recently Kyler was brought in as an agent.
Kyler graduated from Sullivan High School in 2016 and from Eastern Illinois University in 2020 with a degree in broadcast meteorology and earth science. Prior to going into insurance he worked for Marvin Keller. In his spare time he enjoys flying drones, ping pong and solving Rubik’s cubes.
He is fully licensed in auto, home, life, health, farm and commercial insurance as well as brokerage policies and medicare supplement.
According to Elizabeth their clients have 24/7 access to them whether it be by text, calling or e-mail. The Houser Agency is located at 1102 W. Jackson in Sullivan and can be reached by phone at 217-728-2591.

•November 10, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The City Council approved a matching grant to the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society in the amount of $200,000. The city will approve payments to MCHGS twice a year.
There was a first reading of the 2021 tax levy. According to City Treasurer Sarah Golden the overall proposed levy is $811,329 which is a 4.76% increase over the prior year extension. It will be up for vote at the first meeting in December. The increase is due to the large increase in their insurance renewal.
The council discussed a TIF Redevelopment Agreement by and between the city of Sullivan and Main St. Capital Partners. They are requesting that the city put the utilities in the subdivision. This would be phased in within a long period of time and will be revisited at the next meeting.
It was reported that the Christmas lights are being installed in the park. Crews have begun leaf cleanup and marking trees that need to be removed. Renovation of the children’s pool at the Civic Center continues. A hat, glove and boot drive is being hosted at the center during November with donations accepted during business hours. The pool will be closed to the public 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., Nov. 13 due to a Blue Dolphin swim meet and the facility closed Thursday in observance of Veterans Day. Read More

•November 3, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

At the most recent meeting of the ALAH School Board, Superintendent Shannon Cheek reported they had received a kickback of $880 from Sarah Bush Lincoln since students and the community utilize their services. “Eight hundred and eighty dollars is helpful for sure,” said Cheek. He also informed the board that the district received another payment from transportation, but it was for last year.
Cheek informed the board about the Southern Illinois Purchasing Cooperative (SIPC). It provides an opportunity to purchase janitorial items and other supplies through Home Depot. “It may provide us with opportunities that we have not had in the past for janitorial staff,” he stated. There is no cost to join and no strings attached and also provides the district with a free iPad. The iPad will help the staff document areas that are cleaned and find out which tools and concepts work best for cleaning. It will assist in providing feedback visually. “This will provide an opportunity to have some informational data and development for our janitorial staff,” said Cheek. The board voted to move ahead to join into an agreement with SIPC. Read More

•October 27, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan City Council approved a resolution to open an account for American Recovery Plan funds during Monday night’s meeting.
Bill Burger addressed the council in regard to the IEPA permit for which the city was issued penalties due to its being late. This month he wrote a letter to the editor at News Progress concerning that topic. Burger said that the mayor addressed it at the next meeting held after the letter was published.
He revealed that he had a letter from a law firm representing the city. It was brought up that the permit was for five years. “Finding out it was a five-year permit, I can see how it got swept under the rug, got lost, someone just didn’t do it,” Commissioner Mike Fowler said.
He continued to say that this mistake is not affecting his electric bill. “The violation number alleges that Sullivan failed to timely renew its CAPP permit at least nine months prior to the date of the permit expiration and that now Sullivan operates without the CAPP permit,” Burger informed the board. He explained that CAPP is the Clean Air Act Program Plan. Read More

•October 27, 2021•
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced a railroad crossing improvement project in Sullivan that will require the closure of Hamilton Street (Illinois 32) from Monday, Nov. 1, through Wednesday Nov. 3.
The closure is necessary to upgrade and make repairs to the surface crossing. When Hamilton Street is closed, a detour will be posted using Eden and South Market streets, and traffic will not be permitted to travel between Hale Street and Roane Street. Read More